When Dating Becomes Dangerous

Book excerpt: Send your teenager out into the dating world equipped with the knowledge, strength, and communication skills to walk away from abusive relationships—and to develop healthy ones. As our kids grow older and they start asserting their independence, we worry about their safety and well being. And when it comes to dating and intimacy, it is hard to know how to protect them when a would-be gentle relationship turns violent, be it verbally or physically. The fact is that as many as one in four high school and college-aged youth are affected by an abusive relationship. So, how do we as parents protect our kids from becoming another statistic? And how do we give them the self-assurance to leave a dangerous situation? In this informative guide for parents, Barry Levy and Patricia Occhiuzzo Giggans, both experts in relationship violence, draw on their professional experience to provide guidance for getting through the relationship challenges kids, both gay and straight, face today. Here you’ll discover: How to give your teen the skills to encourage healthy relationships Why many teenagers hide their abusive relationship How to recognize the warning signs of dating violence, including cyber abuse What to do if your child is the abuser, and when girls are the perpetrator of abuse